"That is a question to be put to the Baron. My lips are sealed."
"And you an Englishman! It sounds incredible."
"Do you suppose I should have telegraphed to Baron von Gratzen if it were incredible?"
This worried him not a little, and he sat thinking with his hand pressed to his head. Not having the key to the riddle, he might well be baffled. "And your companion, Miss Caldicott, is going to England?"
"Certainly. You have been quite courteous and I have no objection whatever to show you her papers;" and I took them out and handed them over. "You will see that they also bear the official hallmark of Baron von Gratzen's office."
He was obviously impressed. "Both tickets are through to Rotterdam, I notice. Are you going to England also?"
"My instructions are to see Miss Caldicott across the frontier, and to return to Berlin as soon as my task is finished, unless his Excellency sends for me sooner."
It was such a lovely mixture of the truth and the other thing that it appeared quite flawless, and he couldn't make head or tail of it. "Of course you understand that you will have to remain at Osnabrück while this is being investigated?" he said at length, returning the tickets.
"That is for you to decide, and so far as I myself am concerned it is not of the least consequence. But it's different with Miss Caldicott. It is essential that her journey should not be interrupted."
Nessa started at this and spoke for the first time. "I shall not go on without you," she protested.